Fire-escape and ladder.



PATENTED FEB. 10, 1903.

H. BRACKLO.

FIRE ESCAPE AND LADDER.

APLIOATION FILED APB. 9. 1902.

E El H0 MODEL.

N VEN [0H Wer/72a 7272 Break/a jan/M ATTORNEYS HERMANN BRACKLO,

ATENT y Erica.

lOF NEW' YORK, N. Y.

FIRE-ESCAPE AND LADDER.

@EECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,990, dated February 10, 1903.

Application led April 9, 1902. Serial No. 101,984. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern-s Be it known that I, HERMANN BRACKLO, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Escapes and Ladders, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. l

The object of this invention is to provide an improved combination tire-escape and ladder which may be used either as a ladder or tire-escape whenever desired and which may be supported in connection with a building and compactly folded together when not in use and by means of which an alarm may be sounded on the various doors of a building in case of fire.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following speciiicatiomof which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the sepa'- rate parts of my improvement are designated by the same reference characters in each of the views, and in which- Figure lis a sectional side elevation of one Wall ofa building provided with my improved combination tire-escape and ladder; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the parts in position for use; Fig. 3, a front view of the parts as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a plan View or end view of my improved combination ladder and iire escape detached from a building and showing the parts folded together; Fig. 5, a similar view showing the parts extended for use; Fig. 6, a partial section on the line 6 6 of Fig. fl.

In the drawings forming part of this speciflcation I have shown at a one of the walls of a building, in which are placed windows a2, and this building is provided with separate oors d3 and corresponding ceilings, whereby separate compartments a4 are formed, and iu the practice of my invention I provide a combination ladder and fire-escape comprising two main side bars or parts o and c, the part b being adapted to be secured vertically to the wall of the building in any desired manner, and said part is preferably provided with a longitudinal groove o2, which opens outwardly and in which the rungs d are pivoted at one end, the opposite end thereof being pivoted to the part c.

The ends of the rungs d in the part o are provided with cam-heads or downwardly-directed portions cl2, and the connection thereof with the part b is made by strong pivot-pins d3, the connection of said rungs with the part c being made by similar pivot-pins. As thus constructed the part c may be folded upwardly, as shown in Figs. l and 6, and rest closely adjacent to or against one side of the part ZJ, or the said part c may be lowered into the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the rungs d are held horizontally, as shown in said ligure. The part c is also provided with rungs e, which are pivoted thereto at e and which are pivotally connected with a supplemental bar or part f at f2, which is provided with an inwardly-directed flange f3, and the rungs e at the ends thereof which are connected with the bar or part fare provided with cam-heads or upwardly-directed projections 63, and by means of this construction the part or bar f may also be lowered, so that the rungs c will be in a horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5.

The bar c when raised into the position shown in Fig. l may be held therein by a cord g, connected with the upper end thereof at g2 and passed around a pulley g3 and extended downwardly adjacent` to the windows a2 and secured at g4 or at any other desired point, and' when the necessity arises for using the fire-escape or ladder this cord may be cut at either of the windows, and the parte will drop into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the device may then be used as a ladder, and any one at either of the windows may descend tothe ground thereon. Whenvthe part c is in the position shown in Figs. 3, 4:, and 5, the part or bar f may be pulled outwardly and dropped into the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and the said bar or part f and the iiange f3 thereof will operate as a guardrailand may be used in ascending or descending the ladder. Ialso preferably suspendat any desired point within the compartment a4abellor other alarm device 7L and connect therewith a spiral spring h2, with each of which is connected a cord h3, which is passed through the windowframe, preferably at the top thereof, and con IOO nected with the bar or part @,and when the part c and its attachments are lowered into the position shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5 the bell or other alarm device h will be operated, and this gives notice to the occupant or occupants of the compartment of a re or other danger, and said occupant or occupants may at once descend to the ground, as will be readily understood. It will also be understood that the cord g may be cut at any point, and any occupant of any of the comparments may thus be able to give an alarm to the occupants of the other compartments, and when the part c is again raised the spring h2 will contract and the slack of the cords h3 will be drawn in, as shown in Fig. 1.

This device is simple in construction and operation and perfectly adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended, and changes in and modification of the construction described may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacriiicing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, is

l. A combination ladder and fire-escape composed of two parts connected by rungs, one of said parts being provided with a longitudinal groove in which the rungs are pivoted and said rungs being provided with camheads adapted to bear against the back of said groove, and said rungs being also pivotally connected with the other part, and said last-named part being also provided with pivoted rungs which are pivotally connected with a supplemental part or bar having an inwardly-directed flange and the ends of said rungs at their pivotal connection with said last-named part or bar being also provided with cam-heads adapted to bear on said ange, substantially as shown and described.

2. A combination ladder and fire-escape comprising main and supplemental parts or bars, one of which is provided with a longitudinal groove, rungs pivoted at one end of said groove and provided with cam-heads adapted to bear on the back thereof, said rungs being also pivoted to the supplemental part or bar, and another part or bar connected with the supplemental part or bar by means of rungs which are pivotally connected thereto, said other part or bar being provided with a flange and said rungs with cam-heads adapted to bear thereon, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 8th day of April, 1902. Y

HERMANN BRACKLO.

Witnesses:

F. A. STEWART, C. E. MULREANY. 

